Beach plum home page. Beach Plum
Disease management
What you can do about Brown Rot and Phytopthera Root and Crown Rot
Home page
Brown rot on beach plums
Brown rot on beach plums.
Larger image.
Brown Rot Biology
and Control


The fungus that causes brown rot does not reside on weeds. Rather the infected fruit that drops from the plants harbors the fungus over the winter. Tiny "mushroom-like" fruiting bodies develop on the mummies in spring and produce spores which are splashed and blown to developing shoots. Fungicides must be applied to the beach plum plant to be effective in controlling this diseases.

For more information on brown rot, consult the IPM fact sheet on Brown Rot of Stone Fruits [html] or view .pdf version.

The guidelines for managing brown rot for plum [.pdf version] are on page 187 of Cornell Cooperative Extension's Pest Management Guidelines for Tree Fruit Production 2004.

Phytopthera Root and Crown Rot

Phytophthora root and crown rot is quite destructive on a number of plants in the Prunus genus. Look for red-brown discoloration under the bark on affected and dying trees. This disease is particularly a problem in wet years and on wet sites.

For more information, see the IPM fact sheet Phytophthora Root and Crown Rots or view the .pdf version.

Information provided by:
Juliet E. Carroll, PhD
Fruit IPM Coordinator
NYS IPM Program, Cornell University
New York State IPM Program - Resources for Fruit
Cornell Fruit Resources